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December 24, 2013

November 2013 - Current Affairs for Civil Service Exams

Taiwan signed a free trade agreement with Singapore on 7 November in Taipei,
the capital of Taiwan.It is first trade agreement Taiwan has signed with a
member of the Association of Southeast Nations.Singapore is Taiwan’s
fifth-largest trade partner and fourth-largest export market, with bilateral
trade totalling US$28.2 billion in 2012.

U.S. named Nigeria’s Boko Haram ‘Terrorist’ Group

The US State Department has on 13 November officially designated Boko Haram,
the Nigerian Islamist group responsible for the 2011 bombing of the UN
headquarters in Abuja, as a “foreign terrorist organisation”. The designation
is significant because it directs US law enforcement and regulatory agencies to
block business and financial transactions with Boko Haram, which is fighting to
impose Islamic law in northern Nigeria and has ties to al Qaeda. Boko Haram
means “Western education is sacrilege”.

Abdullah Yameen Elected as President of Maldives

Abdulla Yameen, the candidate of Progressive Party , has been elected as
president of the Maldives on 16 November .In the presidential election, Yameen
defeated Mohamed Nasheed of Maldivian Democratic Party with a margin of six
thousand votes.Yameen secured 51.39 percent (1 lakh 11 thousand) of votes,
whereas Mohamed Nasheed received 48.61 (1 lakh 5 thousand votes).Yameen is an
economist and the half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the former autocratic
ruler, who ruled Maldives for 30 years.

Iran and P5+1 Group of Nations Signed The Historic
Nuclear Deal

Iran and P5+1 group of Nations reached a breakthrough deal on 24 November 2013
to curb Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for limited sanctions relief.An
agreement to this effect was signed at UN Headquarters in Geneva on 24 November
2013 between the Chief negotiator for the six nations, Catherine Marie Ashton
and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarief. The interim deal for six
months is intended to give time and space to the international community to
work towards a comprehensive agreement.After four days of negotiations, representatives
of P5+1 group of nations – the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany –
reached an agreement with Iran.The deal is intended as the first step in a
six-month process aimed at a permanent resolution to the decade-old global
impasse over Iran’s nuclear programme, and heading off the threat of a new war
in West Asia.

INDIA & WORLD

India Ranked 7th In Expat Quality Life

According to the research survey commissioned by HSBC Expat and conducted by
independent research company YouGov , India is placed seventh out of 37 in a
list of countries ranked in terms of expat quality of life.Thailand tops the
list which is dominated by Asian countries with mainland China, Singapore and
Taiwan are ranked 3rd, 6th, and 8th places respectively.Others in the top 10
include Bahrain (2nd), Cayman Islands (4th), Australia (5th), Spain (9th) and
Brazil (10th).The results show Asia to be the leading destination for expat
quality of life, with the region also emerging as an expat social hotspot.The
survey report was released on 4 November.

India and Kuwait Signed Five Agreements

India and Kuwait on 8 November discussed collaboration in petrochemicals, and
Kuwaiti investments in infrastructure in India as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
held bilateral talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak
al-Hamad al-Sabah in New Delhi.After the bilateral talks , five agreements were
signed including an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons, cooperation
in the field of sports and youth affairs and exchange of cultural and
information programmes, besides cooperation in the field of education.

India and Japan Decided To Strengthen their
Cooperation in the Maritime Sector

India and Japan have decided to further strengthen their cooperation in the
maritime sector as a part of the overall robust bilateral relations.The two
countries on 9 November agreed to enhance their interaction through the
existing forums and through port-to-port exchanges.These issues came up for a
discussion between the Union Minister of Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan, and Akihiro
Ohta , Minister of land, Industries and Transport & Tourism, Government of
Japan.

India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission Held In
New Delhi

The fifth session of India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade,
Economic, Scientific, Technological, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation held
in New Delhi on 13 November.The Commission was chaired by E. Ahamed, the
Minister of State for External Affairs.The Ukrainian delegation was led by Mr.
Ihor Mykolayovych Prasolov, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of
Ukraine.During the session current status and future prospects of cooperation
in trade and investment, heavy/light industry, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and
healthcare, mining and metallurgy, science and technology, energy (coal,
nuclear), transportation, agriculture and food processing, education, culture
and tourism were reviewed.The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government
of India, and the State Administration of Ukraine on Medicinal Products signed
the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Joint Ventures and Research
and Development in Pharmaceuticals and Bio-pharmaceuticals.

US exempts India, China From Iran Oil Sanctions

The US has on 29 November exempted some countries, including India and China,
from the tough Iranian sanctions for reducing their dependence on Iranian oil.
Secretary of State, John Kerry announced in a statement in Washington that
other countries which have significantly reduced the purchases of Iranian crude
oil are the Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Taiwan and these have qualified for
an exception to sanctions under the National Defence Authorisation Act.This
move came after the decision made by US President Barack Obama that there is
sufficient supply of non-Iranian oil for countries to continue to reduce import
of oil from Iran.This is the fourth time that these countries have qualified
for an NDAA exception as a result of their continued significant reductions in
the volume of crude oil purchases from Iran or their end to such purchases.

NATIONAL

Medical Council of India Reconstituted

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India on 6 November reconstituted
the Medical Council of India (MCI) with 68 members as per provisions contained
in the Indian Medical Council(Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2013.Among the 68
members of the Council, 29 members will represent the Universities/
Health Sciences Universities, 23 members will be nominated by the Central
Government in consultation with the States, eight members will be nominated by
the Centre, seven members will representing the Registered Medical Graduates of
the states, and one member will be nominated by the Central Government
representing the UT Administration of Daman and Diu. All the members would
hold office for four years.

National Portal On Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Launched

Union Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan on 11 November launched a
National Portal on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad .The portal was inaugurated to mark
125th birth anniversary of the great national leader- Maulana Abul Kalam
Azad.This portal is an initiative to digitise the heritage of the Maulana Abul
Kalam Azad, and make his life and legacy available online. Along with a
biographical account on Maulana Azad, the portal contains titles and
information on over 20 books written by Maulana Azad, in Urdu and English, as
well as information on over 45 books written on Maulana Azad in Urdu, Hindi and
English.

India Poised To Become The Largest Provider
Of Global Talent

According to the Ficci-EY Report on ‘ Higher Education in India: Vision 2030 ‘
released on 13 November , India is poised to become the largest provider of
global talent with one in four graduates in the world a product of the Indian
system.The report further outlines that by 2030, the emergence of a robust
higher education system would enable India to augment its gross enrollment
ratio (GER) to 50%, with a student enrollment of more than 70 million across
the higher education system; reduce disparity in GER to 5 percentage points
across states, gender and various social groups and emerge as a better informed
and evolved society, leading to improved social indicators including better
health and sanitation, life expectancy, and law and order.India would also
emerge among the top 5 countries in the world in terms of research output, with
an annual R&D spend of US$140 billion; have more than 20 universities among
the global top 200 and become a global destination for higher education.

Government Released Postage Stamps On Sachin
Tendulkar

Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal on 14 November released specail edition postage
stamps on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar at a felicitation ceremony to mark his
200th and final cricket test match at the wankhede stadium in Mumbai.Tendulkar
is the second living person after Mother Teressa to get a postage stamp in his
honour.

STATES

Kannur Declared First Zero Landless District in the
Country

Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on 1 November declared
Kannur in Kerala as the first zero-landless district in the country.Kannur
District Authorities provided land to as many as 11118 beneficiaries, including
85 families belonging to the Scheduled Tribes category.The prestigious Zero
Landless programme of the United Democratic Front was flagged off by Congress
president Sonia Gandhi in October 2013.

RAF Academy of Public Order inaugurated in Meerut

Ministry of Home Affairs on 9 November inaugurated RAF Academy of Public Order
in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. This academy will train personnel of Rapid Action
Force along with selected members of other paramilitary forces and civil
police. Public administration, riot control, crowd management, disaster
management, human rights, media management and first aid to the victims are
some of the core issues on which focussed training will be provided to troupes.
Besides, security persons moving on to peace missions under the United Nations,
will also be provided necessary training in the Academy.

India’s First Private Rapid Metro Service Started
Operation From Gurgaon

Rapid MetroRapid Metro-India’s First Private Metro service started operation
from Gurgaon, Haryana on 14 November.Rapid Metro is India’s first fully
privately financed Metro system connecting NH-8 to Delhi Metro via Cyber City,
Gurgaon.Rapid Metro, with an elevated route and six stations with a frequency
of every four minutes, can carry 800 passengers in each trip. The 5.1 km long
route covers six stations-Sikanderpur, Phase-2, Belvedere Towers, Cyber City,
Moulsari Avenue and Phase 3. The Rapid Metro is using a common ticketing system
with Delhi Metro.Rapid Metro is a metro rail system in the Indian city of
Gurgaon, Haryana, linked with the Delhi Metro system’s Yellow Line. Built
and operated by Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Limited (RMGL), the system is India’s
first fully privately financed metro.

Union Cabinet Approved For Legislative Council In
Assam

Union Cabinet on 28 November 2013 approved a proposal to create a Legislative
Council in Assam.According to the Article 169 of Constitution of India,
Parliament can create or abolish the Legislative councils in States.According
to the proposal, the Legislative Council will have 42 members. As per Article
171 of the Constitution, the total number of members in the Council of a state
having such a House shall not exceed one third of the total number of members
in the Legislative Assembly of that state.

CONFERENCES

Delhi To Host 12th Edition Of Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas 2014

The 12th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention to be held in
Delhi from 7th to 9th January 2014 .The theme of the convention is -Engaging
Diaspora – Connecting across Generations- with a special focus on the younger
generation.One of the focus areas of the PBD this year is a Youth PBD on 7th
January 2014 to open new horizons of a strong network of young overseas
Indian.This was announced by Shri Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian
Affairs on 5 Novemeber 2013 in New Delhi.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Bihar Health Worker Martha Dodray Gets ‘ UN ‘ Award
For Polio Work

Martha Dodray, a health worker from Bihar on 6 November won the global UN Award
for her commitment and dedication to eradicate Polio in India.United Nation has
conferred the UN Frontline Workers Global Leadership Award to Martha Dodray.The
award was given in recognition of the roles to individuals, organizations, and
corporations played in supporting the work of the United Nations’ to advance
global peace, justice, and prosperity. The United Nations Foundation and the
United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) honored recipients of the 2013
Global Leadership Awards at the annual Global Leadership Dinner in New York
City.

Indian-American Doctor Rahul Jindal Gets
Prestigious US Award

An Indian-origin doctor ,Eminent transplant surgeon and philanthropist , Rahul
Jinda has been selected for prestigious “Outstanding American by Choice” award
for his valuable contribution to US health sector.He was honoured by the US
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Women in Military Service
for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on 13 November
.The initiative recognises naturalised citizens who have made significant
contributions to both their community and their adopted country.Jindal, who
recently received the Leadership Award from the International Leadership
Foundation, has been appointed the Commissioner on Service and Volunteerism.

‘ RGIA ‘ wins ‘ Best Cargo Airport Award

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad being managed by GMR
Group has been adjudged the ‘Best Cargo Airport of The Year’ at the recently
concluded 40th Annual Convention of Air Cargo Agents Association of India
(ACAAI) held at Jaipur.This is the second year in a row that RGIA has won the
accolade for its cargo operations.

CSIR Scientist Rajesh S. Gokhale Gets ‘ Infosys
Prize 2013 ‘

The Infosys Prize 2013 in Life Sciences is awarded to Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale,
Director, CSIR-Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology,on 13 November
for his work in the field of lipid metabolism in tubercle bacilli.Each year two
million people are infected and die of tuberculosis (TB) and there will be 10
million new patients every year. Dr. Gokhale discovered biochemical networks
and new paradigms necessary for the synthesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(Mtb) cell envelope coat that makes these bacteria escape host immune systems.

The Government of India on 16 November decided to confer, the ‘ Bharat Ratna ‘,
the highest civilian award on eminent scientist Prof CNR Rao (Chintamani Nagesa
Ramachandra Rao) and cricket player Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin Tendulkar :- Sachin will the youngest recipient of the award.He
is also the first sportsperson to be chosen for the honour.He will also become
the ninth person from Maharashtra to join the exclusive club of 43 Bharat Ratna
awardees till date, which includes a galaxy of presidents, prime ministers,
Nobel laureates, scientists and artistes.The award was announced hours after
Tendulkar retired from international cricket following India’s victory over the
West Indies in a Test in Mumbai on 16 November.Tendulkar received the Arjuna
Award in 1994 for outstanding sporting achievement, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
award in 1997, India’s highest sporting honour, and the Padma Shri and Padma
Vibhushan awards in 1999 and 2008, respectively, India’s fourth and second
highest civilian awards.

Prof CNR Rao :- He is the third scientist to be awarded the highest
civilian award– Bharat Ratna, a crowning glory of his inexorable list of
outstanding achievements.Before Rao, C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul
Kalam were bestowed with the award.Rao, founder of the Bangalore-based
Jawharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, has served as Chairman
of the Scientific Advisory Council to Prime Minister under different regimes, a
manifestation of immense faith different governments have placed in him.A
renowned scientist and an institution builder, Rao has worked mainly in
solid-state and structural chemistry.He was also conferred with Padma Shri and
Padma Vibhushan by Government of India and Karnataka Ratna by the Karnataka
State Government.He was awarded the Hughes Medal by the Royal Society in 2000,
and he became the first recipient of the India Science Award, instituted by the
Government of India, for his contributions to solid state chemistry and
materials science, awarded in 2004.He has become the first Indian to reach the
h-index of 100, reflecting the enormity of the body of his published research
work.

* Rao, a Kannadiga and Sachin, a Maharashtrian have got India’s highest
civilian award together.After engineering genius Sir M Vishweshwaraiah and the
Hindustani music great Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, CNR Rao is the third Kannadiga to get
Bharat Ratna. Sachin is the 6th Maharashtrian to get the same honour.

SPORTS & GAMES

Sebastian Vettel Won Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix 2013

Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany won the Abu Dhabi
Formula 1 Grand Prix on 3 November at the Yas Marina circuit, Abu
Dhabi.Vettel’s team-mate Aussie Mark Webber finished with second position, with
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany finishing third.Sebastian Vettel won
the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the second time in his career. (First time is in
2009). This victory has drawn Vettel level with compatriot Michael Schumacher’s
mark of seven successive wins.

Indian Men’s Hockey Team Qualified For Hockey World
Cup 2014

Indian men’s team has qualified for the Rabobank Hockey World cup 2014 to be
held at The Hague, Netherlands. International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed
the India’s berth in a official press release at Switzerland. Australia success
at Oceania Cup on 3 November confirmed latest teams for world cup 2014.The
Rabobank Hockey World Cup will be held from 31 May to 15 June 2014.

Novak Djokovic Won Paris Masters Title

Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the Paris Masters Tennis Title on 3 November at
Paris, France.He defeated David Ferrer of Spain in the final.It is the first
time Djokovic, the 2009 Paris Masters champion, has won back-to-back Masters
Series events since his successive triumphs in Rome, Madrid and Montreal in
2011.This Paris Master title was Novak Djokovic’s 40th career title and sixth
title in 2013.

Yuki Bhambri Won Traralgon Challenger Title

Indian Yuki Bhambri won the ATP men’s singles title of Traralgon event in Australia
on 4 November .He defeated Bradely Klahn of America in the final.It was his
first ATP Challenger level singles title of the season and second of his career
.

India To Host Men’s Hockey World Cup In 2018

India will host the men’s section of the hockey World Cup in 2018, the
International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced on 7 November .The finals will
be played from 1 to 16 December 2018.Also, England will host the Women’s World
Cup of hockey from 7-21 July, 2018. India last hosted the World Cup in New
Delhi in 2010 , while the 2014 edition of Hockey World Cup would be played in
The Hague, Netherlands.Hockey’s World Cup is held every four years and is
second only to the Olympics in significance.

Heena Sidhu Won Pistol Gold In World Cup Shooting

Shooter Heena Sidhu created history by becoming the first pistol exponent from
India to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup finals on 10 November in
Munich, Germany .In the Women’s 10-metre Air Pistol event final, She
defeated World Champion Zorana Arunovic of Serbia to bag her first Gold.The
earlier gold medallists in this competition were Anjali Bhagwat (2002) and
Gagan Narang (2008) in small bore rifle shooting.

Sebastian Vettel Won United States Grand Prix 2013

Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany on 17 November won
United States Grand Prix.France’s Romain Grosjean in Lotus was second with Red
Bull’s Mark Webber took the third place.This was his eighth successive race of
Vettel in a season. With this win he succeeded ahead of Michael Schumacher’s
previous record of winning seven races in a row in the same season, which was
set in 2004.This was also vettel’s 12th win of the season.

ECONOMY

India Will Be World’s 3rd Largest Economy By 2030

According to the Standard Chartered’s Super-Cycle Report released on 6 November
, India will world’s third largest economy by 2030 , behind China and the USA,
adding that the world is in the midst of an economic super-cycle.A super-cycle
is a period of historically high global growth, lasting a generation or more,
driven by opening up of new markets, increasing trade, high rates of
investment, urbanisation and technological innovation.India is likely to be the
third largest economy with a GDP size of $15 trillion by 2030.China with a GDP
of $53.8 trillion is projected as the biggest economy, followed by the US at
$38.5 trillion.

World’s 6th Largest Number Of Billionaires In India

According to the ‘ World Billionaire Census 2013 ‘ released on 6 November ,
India has more number of billionaires than France, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland
and Hong Kong and is home to the sixth largest group of super rich population
in the world.Moreover, the country’s financial capital Mumbai with 30
billionaire, is among the top 5 ‘billionaire cities’ globally, which was topped
by New York that is home to 96 billionaires.Hong Kong, Moscow and London make
the top five with 75, 74 and 67 billionaires respectively.Notwithstanding the
number of billionaires in India having decreased between July, 2012 and June,
2013, India still enjoys a decent 6th position in the top 10 league with 103
billionaires.This list was topped by United States with 515 ultra-rich people,
three times more than in China, which ranks second with 157
billionaires.Germany, United Kingdom and Russia make the top five countries
with a billionaire population of 148, 135 and 108 respectively.

Azim Premji Tops India Philanthropist List

According to the China-based Hurun Report Inc ‘ HurunIndia Philanthropy List –
2013 ‘ released on 13 November , Wipro chief and IT tycoon Azim Premji tops the
list of Indian philanthropists with donations amounting to Rs8,000 crore in the
past year.Shiv Nadar , chairman of HCL group, is the second highest contributor
in the list with a donation of Rs.3,000 crore.Hurun India Philanthropy List is
a ranking of 31 Indians who donated more than Rs.10 crore cash or cash
equivalent during Apr 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.

Three of Indian Origin Among Africa’s 50 Richest

Three persons of Indian-origin are among the 50 richest people in Africa,
according to a list released by Forbes magazine on 14 November.Vimal Shah ,
Sudhir Ruparelia and Naushad Merali figure in the list which has been topped by
Aliko Dangote who has a networth of USD 20.8 billion and is the largest cement
manufacturer in sub-Saharan Africa.Vimal Shah is a newcomer on the list and
ranks 18 with a networth of USD 1.6 billion .Ruparelia ranks 24 on the list and
has a networth of USD 1.1 billion.On the 48th spot is Merali with a networth of
USD 430 million.

Prime Minister Inaugurates India’s First ‘
Bharatiya Mahila Bank ‘

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi Jointly
inaugurated India’s first all-women bank, Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) in Mumbai
on 19 November , marking the 96th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi.This first branch of BMB was inaugurated at Air India building at
Nariman Point in Mumbai.The main objectives of the bank will be to focus on the
banking needs of women and to promote their economic empowerment. The bank will
commence operations with an initial capital of one thousand crore rupees.The
new Bharatiya Mahila Bank, with the tagline ” Empowering Women, Empowering
India ,” is due to have 25 branches by next March and 771 total branches over a
seven-year period.The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal for setting up of
all-women bank on August 2013.The Reserve Bank of India gave its in-principal
approval for the Bharatiya Mahila Bank in June 2013 and the banking company was
set up.The Union government approved 1000 crore Rupees seed capital for the
women-focused public sector bank, announced by Union finance minister P.
Chidambaram in his 2013-14 budget speech.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Pakistan Successfully Test-Fires Short Range ‘ Hatf
IX ‘ Missile

Pakistan on 5 November successfully test fired Hatf IX (Nasr) missile, a short
range surface to surface missile that has a range of 60-kilometres.The test
fire was conducted with successive launches of 4 x missiles (Salvo) from a
state of the art multi tube launcher.Nasr, with a range of 60 Kilometer and
in-flight maneuver capability is a quick response system, with shoot and scoot
attributes.The missile has the capability to carry nuclear weapons.

Indian Navy Inducts Advanced Jet Trainer ‘Hawk 132′

Indian Navy on 6 November inducted the fourth generation advanced jet trainer
aircraft ‘Hawk 132′, which has led to a jump in the operational
versatility.”‘Hawk 132′ was inducted into the Navy at a ceremony held at the
Naval Air Station INS Dega at Visakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh.The aircraft was
built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with Transfer of Technology
from M/s British Aerospace, UK.’Hawk 132′ is equipped with advanced and
reliable navigation systems and has the capability to deploy an impressive array
of weaponry including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground rockets, bombs and
guns.It can also carry two extra fuel tanks under the wing, which extends its
considerable strike range.”‘Hawk 132′ is a proven aircraft operating with over
24 nations around the world.The induction of this highly capable aircraft will
provide the much needed fillip to the training of combat pilots in the Navy by
bridging the gap between basic flying training and advanced fighter flying.

Carbon Dioxide Levels Pollution Levels Hit Record
High In 2012

According to the United Nations (UN) weather agency World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) latest report released on 6 November , the level of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere reached a record-breaking high in 2012.The report
found the greenhouse gas measure at 393.1 parts per million in 2012, exceeding
the 350 parts per million that some scientists and environmental advocates have
pegged as the maximum safe limit. The 2012 levels were an increase of 2.2 parts
parts per million from the previous year.The U.N. weather agency predicts
worldwide pollution levels will surpass 400 parts per million by 2016.

3D Printer Creates World’s Smallest Working Human
Liver

In the month of November 2013 , A group of US scientists have created the world’s
smallest human liver which can survive for 40 days and works like the real
thing – using a 3D printer.The mini-livers, made by California-based medical
research company Organvo, are just half a millimetre deep and four millimetres
wide but can perform most of the functions that a real liver can.The printer
builds up 20 layers of hepatocytes cells, which carry out liver functions,
along with two major types of liver cell. It also adds cells from the lining of
a blood vessel. This allows the liver cells to receive nutrients and oxygen.

NASA Releases Natural Color Portrait Of Saturn

NASA has released the first natural-color image of Saturn from space showing
the planet, its moons and rings, as well as the planets Earth, Venus and
Mars.The new panoramic image of the Saturn system, taken by NASA’s Cassini
spacecraft, shows the view, as human eyes would see it. It was unveiled at the
Newseum in Washington on 12 November.The spacecraft’s imaging team processed
141 wide-angle images to create the single panorama mosaic, which sweeps across
404,880 miles of Saturn and its inner ring system.

World’s First Green Helicopter Tested in Germany

The world’s first green helicopter which is noiseless and emission-free has
been successfully tested in Germany on 17 November.The helicopter, named
Volocopter, developed by the German company e-volo, two seat prototype made it
earlier voage in kalsruhe, Germany.The volocopter uses eighteen electrically
driven rotos propel instead of one combustion engine which is environmentally
friendly and emission-free.The emission free Volocopter is a vertical take-off
and landing manned aircraft, with rich features and incredibly
quiet sound, absolutely no noticeable vibrations, new spring strut landing gear
and extremely calm rotor plane that replace conventional aircraft .

PERSONS IN NEWS

A) APPOINTMENTS

Usha Sangwan First Woman Managing Director of Life
Insurance Corporation

Usha Sangwan has become the first woman managing director (MD) at the Life
Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India in its near six decades of existence.
Along with Sangwan, Vijay Kumar Sharma also took charge as an MD of the
country’s premier financial institution on 1 November . Sangwan joined LIC in
1981 as a direct recruit. Prior to taking charge as MD , she was executive
director, corporate communications, LIC of India.

Usha Ananthasubramanian is first Bharatiya Mahila
Bank CMD

Usha Ananthasubramanian has been appointed as the first Chairperson and
Managing Director (CMD) of Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB), the first all-women
bank of India.Ananthasubramanian assumed charge on 12 November.Before joining
BMB, she was an executive director with Punjab National Bank (PNB).In a career
spanning over 31 years, she has worked in various positions in the banking and
allied areas.

R. Banumathi Appointed Chief Justice of the
Jharkhand High Court

Justice R. Banumathi, Judge of the Madras High Court was on 12 November
appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. Justice R.
Banumathi entered the Tamil Nadu Higher Judicial Service in 1988 as a direct
recruit district judge. She worked as District and Sessions Judge in Coimbatore
and Vellore, and Principal District and Sessions Judge in Pudukottai, Madras,
Tirunelveli and Salem.

Justice A.P.Shah is the new Chairman of Law
Commission of India

Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah has been appointed on
22 November as the new chairman of the 20th Law Commission of India.Justice
Ajit Prakash Shah succeeded Justice D. K. Jain who resigned in October 2013 to
take over as the President of National Consumer Disputes Redressal
Commission.Justice Ajit Prakash Shah was Chief Justice of the High Court of
Delhi from May 2008 till his retirement in February 2010.The 20th Law
Commission was established in September 2013.Its tenure has been fixed till
2015.The terms of reference of the 20th Law Commission include review/repeal
obsolete law,examine the existing laws,Revise Central acts of general
importance etc.

Five Central Information Commissioners Appointed To
CIC

Five new Information Commissioners are appointed to the Central Information
Commission (CIC) on 22 November. Chief Information Commissioner Deepak Sandhu
administered the oath of office to them in New Delhi.The new commissioners are
Yashovardhan Azad, Sharat Sabharwal, Manjula Parasher , M A Khan Yusufi and
Madabhushanam Sridhar Acharyulu. With this the total number of Information
Commissioners including the Chief Information Commissioner has gone up to 10.

B)RESIGNS

PFRDA Chairman Yogesh Agarwal Resigned

Yogesh Agarwal, chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority
(PFRDA), resigned from the post of Chairman on 13 November.He resigned because
of the Government’s decision to not allow him to be a part of the selection
panel for members of the regulator.

C)DEATHS

Legendary Pakistani Folk Singer Reshma Died

Legendary Pakistani folk singer Reshma, who mesmerised music lovers in the
Indian subcontinent with soulful rendition of songs like ‘Lambi Judai’ and
‘Dama Dam Mast Kalandar’ in her trademark rustic voice, died in Lahore on 3
November.Reshma, known as ” Nightingale of the Desert “,was born in 1947 in
Bikaner, Rajasthan, in a Banjara family.She has no formal education in music,
but at the age of just 12 years, she was seen singing at the Shahbaz Qalander’s
shrine. Thereafter, her iconic song Laal Meri was recorded on the state-run
Pakistan Radio.With this, she became the most popular folk singer of Pakistan.

British Nobel Laureate Author Doris Lessing Died

Doris Lessing, one of Britain’s most-influential authors and a Nobel Literature
laureate, has died on 17 November at London.She was 94 years old.Her best-known
works are The Golden Notebook, Memoirs of a Survivor and The Summer Before the
Dark. In her life time she wrote more than 80 books, including poetry, two
operas, short stories, plays and non-fiction. In 2007, the 88-year-old Doris
Lessing became the oldest recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. and only
the 11th woman to win the award.

Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah visited India
from 7 – 10 November 2013.During his four day visit , Prime Minister Sheikh
Jaber held detailed bilateral consultations with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh in New Delhi.Both nations discussed collaboration in petrochemicals, and
Kuwaiti investments in infrastructure in India.India and Kuwait agreed to
expand cooperation in key areas, which includes energy and investment.The two
Prime Ministers were held extensive talks on trade, energy and investment and
also on labour laws after which both sides inked five pacts, including on the
transfer of prisoners and cooperation in the field of culture and education.

E)MISCELLANEOUS

Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler Won ” Miss Universe
2013 Title “

Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler won the ‘ Miss Universe 2013 ‘ crown on 9
November ,beating 85 other contenders from around the world at a glittering
ceremony held in Moscow, Russia.Miss Spain Patricia Yurena Rodriguez was named
runner-up, while Miss Ecuador Constanza Baez came third in the contest. Miss
Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo of USA crowned the new beauty queen Miss Venezuela
Gabriela Isler.Manasi Moghe from India had been shortlisted for the top 10
finalists of Miss Universe 2013 but failed to win the crown.Isler’s triumph was
the seventh Miss Universe win for Venezuela, where beauty pageants are a major
source of national pride.

Malala, Malia Obama Among ‘ Times ‘ Influencial
Teens List

Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai and the elder daughter of US
President Barack Obama, Malia, are on Time magazine’s list of 16 most
influential teens of 2013 .The list, published on 12 November, took young
people who have inspired the society by their work in various fields like
music, sports, technology, science, writing and media.

PLACES IN NEWS

One World Trade Center is Tallest Building in US

One World Trade Center was on 12 November declared the tallest building in the
Americas, standing at a symbolic (and now official) 1,776 feet. The Council on
Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, an international body that determines the
heights of skyscrapers, has ruled that the spire atop One World Trade is an
architecturally significant feature of the building — not an antenna.The
decision makes the official height of the building 1,776 feet, not 1,368 feet,
which is the height of the building’s roof. It also allows One World Trade to
beat out Chicago’s Willis Tower as the tallest in the US. Willis Tower’s
antenna does not count towards its official architectural height.One World
Trade Center has been built on the lower Manhattan site of the iconic WTC Twin
Towers, which were destroyed in the terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001.
More than 2,000 people were killed in that attack.

ABBREVIATIONS

BPCL
- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited

AAA - Asian
Athletics Association

CITU - Centre of Indian Trade
Unions

EVM - Electronic Voting Machine

ERDA - Energy Research and Development
Administration

FEMA - Foreign Exchange Management Act

GFCI - Global Financial Centres Index

BOOKS IN NEWS

Vice President Released a Book on India’s Nuclear
Energy Programme

Indian Vice President Mohammad Ansari released a book entitled “India’s Nuclear
Energy Programme : Future Plans, Prospects and Concerns” edited by Prof. R.
Rajaraman at a function organized by Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in
New Delhi on 7 November.The book is aimed at creating the public opinion on
nuclear energy.

The Supreme Court on 26 November constituted a 10-member committee headed by
its woman judge, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, to deal with complaints of
sexual harassment within its precincts.Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam
formed the Supreme Court Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee
(GSICC) in which there are six other female members.There are two members who
are outsiders and not connected with the apex court in any manner.The committee
is in consonance with the guidelines laid down by apex court in its judgement
in Vishaka case for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment at
workplace.Under the guidelines, it is required that the committee has a
majority of female members and two members of civil society nominated by the
Chief Justice of India.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

National Education Day of India Observed Across the
Country on 11 November

The National Education Day of India was celebrated on 11 November 2013 at
Gangtok, Sikkim. The National Education Day has been celebrated in India since
the year 2008. It is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of Maulana Abul
Kalam Azad, a great freedom fighter, an eminent educationist and the first
Education Minister of India. It was also celebrated at Mewat in 2008.

National Press Day observed on 16 November

National Press Day is celebrated across the country on 16 November 2013. The
day is symbolic of a free and responsible press in India. It is the day on
which the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog to
ensure that not only the press maintains the high standards expected from this
powerful medium but also that it was not fettered by the influence or threats
of any extraneous factors. The Press Council of India was first constituted on
4 July 1966 as an autonomous, statutory, quasi-judicial body, and it started
functioning from 16 November 1966 with Justice J R Mudholkar, then a Judge of
the Supreme Court, as Chairman.